Puzzle



(No Model.)

J. O. BYXBE. PUZZLE.

No. 601,428. Patented Mar. 29,1898.-

WITNESSES I INVENTOR.

Jozuv'fiyacbe 1 ATTORNEY Nrrnn STATES .A'TENT' .FFICE.

JOHN C. BYXBE, OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

.PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,428, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed February 23,1897. Serial No. 624,659. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, JOHN C. BYXBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pensacola, in the county of Escambia and State of Florida, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and amusing toy or puzzle, and has for its object to construct a simple and cheap device by means of which a person may pass a considerable length of time pleasantly and instructively by endeavoring to cause a number of balls, variously designated as presidential candidates, to pass from what are termed silver and gold conventions.past certain obstacles, causing certain of said balls to gain access to a representation of the White House, which is the solution of the puzzle.

\Vith these ends in View this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth,and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, its construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which A represents a tray of rectangular shape having a flange of sufficient depth to retain the several balls within the tray and prevent them from falling therefrom, and the center of this tray is raised, as indicated at B, and this raised portion runs longitudinally of the tray and is here designated as majority ridge. At the end of this ridge is located the representation of the Executive Mansion, as indicated at 0, through which are two openings D and E. Back of these openings is a space inclosed by the strip F.

An inclosure is formed upon one side of the ridge by the pins G, and this inclosure is designated as silver convention, while upon the opposite side of the ridge is another inclosure formed by the pins H and designated gold convention. Located upon the ridge just back of the pins G and H are two pins I, designated as bolters, the object of which will be hereinafter set forth, and upon either side of these pins is a square space, after which two series of pins J and K are placed in the form of an outwardly-tending curve, and two other series of pins L and M are set parallel with a portion of the first-named series, thereby forming two passage-ways, and a pin N is located in the center of the ridge between the beginning of these two passageways and is designated pop sentinal, and, finally, the pins 0 and P are so placed upon the side of the ridge between the pins L and M and the Executive Mansion as to provide spaces of sufficient width to retain a ball against limited movements of the tray.

Five balls are used in the solution of the puzzle and are here indicated by 1, 2, 3, 4:, and 5, and are located at the commencement of the game in the depressions designated by Bryan, Hobart, Watson, McKinley, and Sewell, and to solve the puzzle it is necessary that the tray be so manipulated as to cause two of the candidatessuch as McKinley and Hobart, Bryan and Sewell, or Bryan and Watson-to enter the White House through one of the openings D and E by first passing into their proper conventioninclosures and then along majority ridge without leaving the same until finally passing into the space inclosed by the strip F as, for instance, the ball 4, which represents McKinley and should be yellow, is first passed into the gold-convention inclosure and then along majority ridge, avoiding coming in contact with the pins I, designated as bolters, and also avoiding the pin N, until reaching the pins P, where itwould be retained by resting in one of the spaces formed by said pins, when the ball 2, representing Hobart and also being yellow, would be then passed into the gold convention and along the ridge, as just described, until also reaching the pins P, after which both must be caused to pass through the hole E, which represents the election of the gold party. During the manipulations of the tray to cause these movements of the balls it is obvious that the outer balls will be incidentally carried into the convention-inclosures and along majority ridge, and to a certain degree will interfere with the manipulations of the desired balls, and should either or all of them pass into the Executive Mansion first the elec- I ecutive Mansion.

It has been found that this puzzle is exceedinglyamusing, as well as instructive, and much time may be pleasantly passed by its manipulation, and it will interest both young and old, and besides its amusing features it is useful in training a person to steady his nerves and hold the same under control, which is a positive requisite for the successful accomplishment of the solution of this puzzle.

The face and rear surface of the representation of the Executive Mansion may be used for advertising purposes, as well as the edges of the tray, and when so used the puzzle may be manufactured cheaply and given away for the sake of the advantage gained by the advertising.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is '1. A puzzle, consisting of a tray, a ridge formed longitudinally thereof, a series of pins forming two inclosures, other series of pins forming passage-ways from the ridge, retention-pins O and P, a representation of the Executive Mansion, openings D and E therethrough, five balls, and depressions for the placing of said balls at. the beginning of the solution, as specified.

2. A puzzle, consisting of a tray, a ridge formed longitudinally thereof, the representation of the Executive Mansion, openings formed therethrough, a space inclosed behind said mansion, pins G and H so set as to form inclosures upon either side of the ridge, pins I located upon the ridge, a pin N also located upon the ridge in the rear of the pins I, pins J and L so set as to form passage-ways leading from the ridge, pins 0 and P forming spaces for the temporary retention of certain of the balls, depressions formed in the bottom of the tray, and five balls designated by color or number adapted to be located by the depressions at the beginning of the solution, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a puzzle, a tray, a ridge formed longitudinally thereof, a goal at one end of the ridge, suitable inclosures at each side of the ridge, walls forming passage-ways leading away from the ridge, a series of balls to be rolled along the ridge, and obstructions on said ridge to hinder the passage of the balls,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing wituesses.

JOHN C. 'BYXBE.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, .1110. D. CODY. 

